Submitted by: Jackson Swift

As a map of mental and spiritual pathways, the tarot card had been used for contemplation, brainstorming, solving problems or processing feelings and gaining insight into your deeper self.

Tarot card reading has been known to provide us with a new language that can deepen our experience as human beings, helping us to connect to our inner selves and most importantly, teaching us how to listen our intuition.

The Tarot Decks

The tarot reading decks are divided into various groupings namely:

Occultist Decks. Generally designed for divination, meditation, and occult uses, these decks showcase symbolism that are strongly Judeo-Christian in origin, with some Egyptian symbols added.

Subcategories of Occultist Decks:

Neo-Pagan Decks. These decks displays neo-Pagan symbols, where card meanings generally remain connected to the earlier occult decks.

Psychological. These decks show an emphasis on the psychological symbolism of the cards, along with the generally accepted occult symbols.

Traditionally-Designed Decks. Derived from early decks, prior to revision by occultists, these decks showcase symbols that are primarily Judeo-Christian. The Order of the Trumps (Major Arcana) varies and there are some decks that showcase unnumbered Trumps. Most of these decks are suitable for divination, though they dont necessarily have the overt occult symbols on them.

Subcategory:

Minchiate Decks. This deck contains all the cards that the Tarot contains added with other cards, totaling 97 in the deck. As opposed to the 22 Trump (Major Arcana) cards, there are 41 Trumps in a Minchiate Deck. Having 18 out of the original 22 regular Trump cards, the Minchiate Decks have no Emperor, Empress, High Priestess (Papess), and Hierophant (Pope). Instead, these decks have a Grand Duke, the Eastern Emperor and the Western Emperor as well as the Four Elements, the twelve Zodiac signs, and four Virtues. Several of the normal Trumps have different names (such as Strength is often called The Force).

Modern Decks. Most of these decks are art decks, designed for their artistic merit and may or may not have occult symbols on them. The order of the Trump cards (Major Arcana) may vary. These decks, in most cases, are suitable for divination, meditation and other purposes.

Other Decks. This includes decks which are not truly Tarot decks, but have potential to be used in the same manner.

Divination Decks based on Playing Cards. These decks have their basis on the regular deck of 52 playing cards, but with symbols and drawings added to facilitate their use as a divination deck.

Top 10 Tarot Decks

1. Rider-Waite Tarot Deck

Originally published in 1909, the Rider-Waite tarot deck is the most popular Tarot deck in use today in the English-speaking world.

Illustrated by Artist Pamela Coleman-Smith as instructed by renowned mystic and academic scholar, Arthur Edward Waite, the Rider-Waite tarot deck showcases deceptively simple, almost child-like images but with details and backgrounds holding a wealth of symbolism.

Showcasing some imagery that remains close to that found in earlier decks, the Waite-Smith card designs showed a toned down version of the overt Christian symbolism of the earlier decks like the Marseilles deck.

These decks are best for beginners who are just learning how to read tarot cards as almost all of the newer decks are based in some part on the imagery of this deck.

2. The Marseille Tarot Card Deck

A European favorite, the Marseille is a medieval style Tarot deck that is also listed with the Rider-Waite as some of the best tarot cards. It has unique illustrations that definitely recall medieval tarot cards even though their pedigree likely dates to the late 1800’s and was popularized in the 1930’s.

3. Morgan Greer Tarot Deck

The Morgan Greer deck showcases illustrations that are true to the symbolism of the Rider-Waite decks, but with richer and more vibrant colors.

4. The Thoth Tarot Card Deck

The Aleister Crowley’s Thoth tarot cards are a widely used modernist esoteric tarot deck. It is illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris and features deep and compelling images and many layers of symbolism.

5. Steele Wizard Tarot

A self-published deck by artist Pamela Steele, the Steele Wizard Tarot consists of 88 cards, with 28 majors and 60 minors. There are many of the cards that follow the Rider-Waite-Smith traditional Tarot, but there are some variations. 6 cards are added to the Major Arcana and 4 to the Minor Arcana. Each court card suit has an additional member for this deck, making the court cards for each suit to be Page, Maiden, Knight, Queen, and King. The additions to the Major Arcana include The Weaver, The Universe, Truth, Soul Twins, Evolution, and I AM. These new cards follow the card of the World.

6. Hanson-Roberts Tarot Card Deck.

A modern reimagining of the classic Rider-Waite tarot deck with fairy-tale imagery, the Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck have a more whimsical and fun colorful with a fairy-like quality illustrations.

7. Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot

A colorful variation of the Classic Rider-Waite Tarot, this deck has the exact same illustrations of the classic Rider-Waite deck, just much more colorful. There is a dark blue with little yellow stars pattern on the back of the cards, which is a big improvement over the boring blue plaid design on the back of the classic Rider-Waite deck. This deck is excellent for beginners as well as advanced Tarot enthusiasts.

8. Tarot of the Cat People

Some of the best tarot cards for nature-lovers, especially cat people, the Tarot of the Cat People is a modern classic by Karen Kuykendall that is in the fictitious Outer World where the residents have a strong connection to their natural environment.

9. The Bohemian Gothic Tarot

Not for beginners, but definitely a must have for Tarot Card collectors, the Bohemian Gothic Tarot showcases skulls & bones on the back of the cards with all of the illustrations vibrant and fascinating.

10. Deviant Moon Tarot

A much-lauded tarot deck by Patrick Velenza, the Deviant Moon Tarot has eccentric, lush and absolutely stunning imagery but is basic enough to be easy to read for just about any level of tarot reader.

About the Author: Jackson Swift is the author of this article for Universal Psychic Guild that gives guidance for better and clearer life via online psychic readings thru email, webcam and telephone. For Further Information visit our website at

psychicguild.com/

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